wright



'(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

G. W. WRIGHT.

DOOR GHEGK.

No. 542,129. I Ty! Patented July 2, 18-95 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. W. WRIGHT.

DOOR GHEUK.

No. 542,129. Patented July Z, 1895.

G I F J 1 H k I v I H I I 0 i J P Q W a 1 (C) J 1;

Mfg/gm ITEED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

GRANVILLE W. WRIGHT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SARGENT &COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DOOR-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,129, dated July 2, 1895.

T al whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI, GRANVILLE W. WRIGHT, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Door-Checks, (Case A;) and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the 1 0 same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, an under side view; Fig. 2, an under side View, the bottom of the case removed and parts broken away to show the mechan- [5 ism; Fig. 3, a longitudinal central section of the case,'showing parts of the mechanism in side view.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices to operate in opposition to the spring or other power applied to close the door, and to so resist the closing action that while the force applied is permitted to exert itself the resistance will cause the closing movementof the door to be so slow as to prevent slamming, the object of the invention being to combine a mechanical check with a volute spring and within the same case or frame as the spring, in contradistinction to a fluid check, which has heretofore been combined with such a spring, the check, however, being adapted for use on a door in which the force applied for closing the door may be a structure independent of the check; and the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described 3 5 and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the case, which is provided with suitable lugs or flanges B, by which it may be secured to the lintel, or wherever it may be desired. Within the case a vertical 4o principal shaft 0 is arranged and supported in the top and bottom of the case in bearings D D, provided for the purpose, and so as to permit the shaft to be rotated. Within the case the steel volute spring E is arranged in the usual manner, the outer end of the spring being connected with the case and the inner end of the spring connected with the shaft, and so that as the shaft is rotated in one direction it will wind the spring. Then, when free, the reaction of the spring will impart rotation to the shaft in opposite direction.

Application filed February 23, 1892. Renewed January 25, 1893. Serial No. 459,698- (No model.)

At one end of the shaft outside the case a lever F is applied, which is in conuectionwith the door, in the usual manner, so that the opening of the door will turn the shaft in one direction to wind the spring, and so that the reaction of the spring will be communicated through the lever to close the door. As represented, this shaft is provided with a ratchetwheel G, and the lever provided with a suitable pawl or bolt H, by which the lever may be coupled to the shaft, so that the spring may be wound to the required tension, and then engagement be made between the lever and the shaft in the usual and well-known man ner. The connections between the shaft and the door are illustrated, but they are too well known to require particular description, and, if preferred, other connecting devices may be employed.

Within the case, and at one side of the principal shaft, a second vertical shaft I is arranged, its axis parallel with the axis of the principal shaft 0, and the said second shaft is in gear connection with the principal shaft,

and so that a partial rotation of the principal shaft, as in the closing movement of the door, will impart a rapid rotation to the said second shaft. As here represented this gear connection is produced by a gear-wheel J, pref- 8o erably loose on the shaft 0, but so as to be engaged with the shaft in the closing movement of the door. Between the principal shaft 0 and the shaft I an intermediate vertical shaft K is arranged, which carries a pinion L, into which the gear J works, and the shaftK also carries a gear-wheel M, which works into a pinion N on the shaft I. The difference in the'diameters of the gears and pinions is so great that the slow movement of the principal shaft produced as in the closing movement of the door will impart rapid revolution to the shaft I. In my invention, to resist the rapid closing of the door under the action of the force ap- 5 plied thereto, I introduce or combine with the rapidly-revolving shaft a yielding resistance, but which normally offers substantially no resistance to the revolution of the shaft. Such a resistance may be in the form of a fly O, arranged upon a shaft P, supported in suitable bearings. As here represented, and for convenience, the shaft 0 is arranged with its axis at right angles to the axis of the shaft I, and the revolution of the shaft I is communicated to the shaft P through a gear-wheel Q on the shaft I, working into a worm R on the shaft P, the pitch of this worm being such that the revolution of the gear Q, on the shaft I will impart revolution to the shaft P, and consequently the shaft P will be much more rapid in its revolution than the shaft I. The fly 0, as here represented, consists of two flat blades made fast to the shaft, and under the revolution of the shaft P the air creates a resistance to the revolution of the fly O, as usual in such flies. This resistance reacts upon the shaft I to correspondingly retard the movement of that shaft, and as usual for such flies the resistance produced by the fly increases greatly as the velocity of revolution of the fly is increased. 4

As a means for engaging and disengaging the gear J from the principal shaft, a ratchet- Wheel W is rigidly attached to the shaft, and on the wheel J a spring-pawl X is hung, adapted to engage the ratchet in the closing movement of the door, that movement being indicated by the arrow, and so as to escape therefrom in the opening movement of the door. This is desirable in order that the checking appliance will not operate during the opening movement of the door. This is a common device for making such connection and disconnection, and for which other known devices may be substituted.

In the opening movement of the door under the arrangement for disengaging the principal shaft from the gearing no effect will be produced upon the shaft I, that shaft and all connected with it remaining stationary; but as the door commences its closing movement under the action of the spring, or whatever the force may be, the shaft I revolves and imparts revolution to the fly O. This fly revolving offers a resistance to the revolution of the shaft 1, and consequently to the closing movement of the door. The more rapid the closing movement of the door the more rapid will the fly revolve and increase the resistance, thereby retarding the closing movement of the door, and so that notwithstanding the fact that the door may gain considerable headway in the commencement of its closing movement that headway or velocity of the closing movement will be reduced or checked, and so that before the door reaches the jamb the closing movement will have been so much retarded as to prevent slamming.

As the area of the blades constitutes the measure of resistance, that resistance may be varied by correspondingly varying the size or inclination of the blades, and so as to adapt the check to different powers of spring.

I have represented the resistence to the revolution of the driven shaft I as produced by the fly on a transverse shaft in connection with the driven shaft I; but it will be apparent that the fly may be applied directly to the shaft I if desired.

The checking device thus described, while specially designed and applicable to employment in connection with a volutespring within the same case or frame in which the checking device is arranged, may be employed with a spring independently applied to the door, the door having connection with the principal shaft, as described, and so that the closing movement of the door will impart rotation to the principal shaft, and thence rapid revolution to the driven shaft.

While representing the apparatus as inclosed within a case, it will be understood that this is not essential to the invention, any suitable frame which will support the mechanism being sufficient.

In describing and illustrating the invention, an intermediate shaft between the principal and second or driven shaft is represented,producing atraiu of multiplying gears; but it will be understood that the gear on the principal shaft may Work directly into a small corresponding pinion on the second shaft, or the multiplication of the gear may be to a greater or less extent.

While preferring to disconnect the gearing from the principal shaft in the opening movement of the door, it is not essential to the invention that this shall be done, as the gear may be in permanent connection with the shaft, so that the resistance will operate in bothdirections; but the disadvantage in doing this is the resistance which is offered to the openingof the door as well as the wear to the machinery.

From the foregoing it will be understood that this invention is therefore not to be limited to the specific construction of the parts as shown and described, the inventor reserving to himself the right to modify so long as he does not depart from the general principles of this invention, and as hereinafter particularly recited.

I claim- 1. A door-check consisting of a principal shaft with connection therefrom to the door, and so that a corresponding rotative movement is imparted to the said principal shaft by the opening and closing movement of the door, a second shaft in gear connection with said principal shaft, and whereby the rotative movement imparted to the principal shaft will communicate rapid revolution to the said second shaft, mechanism substantially such as described to yieldingly resist the revolution of said second shaft, and mechanism substantially such as described to disengage said principal shaft from the gearing in the opening movement and engaging it in the closing movement of the door, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a case or frame adapted for attachment to the iintel of a door, a vertical principal shaft in said frame, a vo- 7 of said second shaft, with'mechanism substantially such as described to disengage the principal shaft from the gearing in the opening movement of the door, and engage the said principal shaft with the gearing in the closing movement of the door, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GRANVILLE W. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

FRED O. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELSEY. 

